Annabel and Her Sisters

by Catherine Alliott

PRE-ORDER NOW! The new novel from the Queen of Romantic Comedy, Catherine Alliott


'Her writing is both intelligent and sparkling' MARIAN KEYES

‘Alliott is always an absolute joy to read’ VERONICA HENRY

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Annabel and her sisters must decide what's best for their elderly mother, but her children have decided its time for her to put herself, and her love life, first.

After years of caring for everyone else, Annabel must decide whether to continue to shun the idea of finding love again, or finally give in to the idea that it just might be possible to meet someone special, after all.

But when family secrets come to light which threaten the entire fabric of Annabel’s childhood and family, what — or who — she needs in her life comes becomes suddenly crystal clear to her, in the most surprising of ways. . .

Genres: Audiobook, Fiction, Chick Lit

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 17, 2025

About the author

Catherine has sold over 3 million bestselling novels worldwide and is translated into eighteen languages.

The first of these novels Catherine started under the desk when she worked as an advertising copywriter. She was duly fired. With time on her hands, she persevered with the novels, which happily flourished.

In the early days she produced a baby with each book - but after three - stuck to the writing as it was less painful.

She writes with her favorite pen in note books, either in the garden or on a sofa.

Home is a rural spot on the Hertfordshire border, which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens, and dogs, which at the last count totaled eighty-seven beating hearts, including her husband. Some of her household have walk-on parts in her novels, but only the chickens would probably recognize themselves.

All her novels are published by Penguin Random House internationally, and by No Shooz Publishing in America and will be available in the US in the Fall of 2017.

Reviews

[Rachel Galbraith · Rating 2 out of 5]

An ok read, not overly exciting or as interesting as I thought it would be.

[Julia Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catherine Alliot's books are the literary equivalent of toast and jam, not any jam though, definitely from a farm shop and the toast is granary as there is plenty to chew over.
Familiar, sweet, and comforting.
Funny, sincere, and romantic, I enjoy her protagonists and the fact that they are 'age appropriate.'

[Mel Garraghan-Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family Dynamics

Oh I loved this story. It felt so relatable as a woman over 50.
Annabel is navigating widowhood 10 years after her husband died, and wondering about dating again.
Her sister Ginnie, a close bond shared with Annabel, feels bewildered by their older sister Clarissa but a huge family secret opens up a whole dimension to the family dynamics.

[Jess The Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
Annabel's mother has decided to sell her house and live with her 3 daughters in rotation for 3 months at a time. However, Annabel is concerned that her mother won't have a stable base, and is also concerned that her mother will be bringing her 7 dogs with her everywhere she goes. Annabel also discovers that her mother has been housing a big family secret.

Annabel has been widowed for 10 years and has started to think that she should try dating again. She soon learns, that even when we get a little older, it can be complicated, and it can be difficult to sort through your feelings when you are getting to used to the different phases of your life.

This book is an easy read, something very calming. Don't expect big emotions, it's all about the stiff upper lip, with maybe a bit of a bottom lip wobble every now and again. It is thoughtful and quiet, but not as scandalous and riveting as I was hoping for.

Thank you to Penguin South Africa for the gifted copy of this book.

[Ailsa Britain · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know why I love Catherine Alliott books as much as I do as I have absolutely nothing in common with any of her characters, who are all called things like Minty and Lavinia and generally seem to be happily married to a spouse of the opposite gender (usually called something like Hugo who wears crushed raspberry corduroys) with 1 male and 1 female offspring, all of whom are doing terribly well in life courtesy of their very expensive private educations and family connections, living either in a £5M+ riverside house in the right part of London or on a smallholding where they are surrounded by dogs and horses, but really there is something very soothing about them and I need soothing at the moment so I enjoyed this one enormously.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn’t necessarily have chosen this book myself, it was recommended by Sarah and we don’t always enjoy the same read. However it was a happy, feel good (if slightly frothy) book that was similar in style/story to a Joanna Trollope novel, with a bit of Jilly Cooper Home Counties thrown in. I liked Annabelle - the main character - and it had a happy but not too saccharine ending that almost brought a tear to my eye.

[Tara Blais Davison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quiet comfortable read about a blinkered existence that belied deeper stirrings.

… we found the same things funny…at dinner parties we’d catch each other’s eyes and dissolve into giggles…another thing we loved to do was potter…not play tennis or run or golf or garden, just chill …read the Sunday papers… pots of coffee would be brewed, which sort of rolled into G&Ts, maybe a stroll after lunch…laughing featured a lot.

“It was Ted, for god’s sake, Ted!”

[Jo Donnelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a well written, easy going read. I liked Annabel but couldn't relate to her priveleged family (Ginny and Clarissa!). The characterisation and development was good. I didn't like a storyline around the mother's dogs though. I did feel that the end of the book was a bit rushed.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!! Catherine is in my top 3 favourite authors. I always want the life of the protagonist. Unfortunately this time I had. Just her situation. Very well written and explained emotions, etc that are all true when you find yourself in this position.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

very enjoyable family saga

[Margaret Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story line, that I could relate too. I thoroughly enjoyed it

[Carla Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lighthearted and wholly endearing.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but I'm not sure that I was particularly fond of the main character, whom I felt to be very judgemental and a tad naive. Perhaps thats how the author meant to portray her....

[Susan Leahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have to love the charm and romance of a Catherine Alliott book. Sweeps you away with family intrigue and heartfelt relationship angst. And always the perfectly satisfying resolution in the end.

[D R Coles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Such an unusual story. So many twists and turns. The main characters were around my daughter's ages so it made it very relevant and i'm 81.

[JoE · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was pretty much exactly what I expected from Alliott. An easy, pleasant read. I do just wish that there was more effort put into proof reading/editing.

[Vicky Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous as always

[Kendra Booker · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read

Easy going book but still keeps the interest there. I’ve always liked Catherine alliott as an author so great to have a new book

[Kathy Buys · Rating 2 out of 5]

A gentle easy read with romance and happy ever afters

[Alison Tilleray · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful book nothing happens pretentious people just awful.
Only finished as it was the only book I traveled with.

[Aria 88]

Audiobook review

Awful narrator

DNF

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, funny family saga. A perfect holiday read.

[Karen Norman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely easy read about family dynamics and relationships when you get older. So nice to read about a heroine who is middle aged and full of doubts just like the rest of us,